We'd lost all electricity, except for lights and refrigerator! There was no heat, no nothing...thank God for batteries on lap tops! David tried flipping all the breakers and what not and nothing. So he called James (our landlord) and James came right over - he is so awesome! He even had the electrician out that day! However, the electrician comes and tries to figure it, can't, soon decides there is a short somewhere and he will have to come back Monday morning!
So we decide to deal with it and stay in our cold house. We had to eat dinner at the Pub - because of course we couldn't cook anything! We didn't get to awful cold until about oh 4 a.m. or so probably. However, when we got up we couldn't do anything...at all, not even our laundry and Christmas is oh what 4 days away! David says he needs a shower and the kids need a bath and we're supposed to go to Mike and Theresa's for some Christmas open house thing, and then we were planning to go to the Christmas Carols and Readings service at the Church here in the village...plus the laundry needs done.
So we make the decision to go get a room on base, get cleaned up, do our laundry, and while we're at it lets go ahead and get groceries...great idea! NOT! The commissary was PACKED! Me + 2 kids + a packed store = one frustrated, irritated, mad, hot, and totally not in the mood for it MOM! As a matter of fact Brier informed me he did not enjoy going grocery shopping with me because it is no fun all I do is get mad. Nice of him uh?
The hot shower did feel very wonderful, but by the time David had gotten the laundry done, I'd gotten the groceries and we'd all showered - it was too late to make it to Mike & Theresa's...so I took a nap.
I have been fight this sinus crud for over 2 weeks! I got better and now it's back! I don't see how one person can have this much snot in their head! It's truly frustrating because I'm tried from it and the medicine and then I don't get everything I'm trying to do completed.
Which reminds me - the other night I was sucked into this blog (I'll post about it later...you have to read it!) and Ashlynn come into the room where I was and said, "you need that". I'm like "I need what?" Laying beside me was an open scrapbook magazine, that I really hadn't looked at yet, and so I peel my eyes from this heart wrenching, yet amazing story to see what my dear darling daughter is talking about. {cough, cough} And what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a grey t-shirt, with a red tiara on it, and in red letters it says, "Queen of unfinished projects". {cough cough} I simply just shake my head. The rotten little thing, sadly it's true. I've probably over a million projects up there to complete and they are still waiting on me.
However, I did complete my Tree skirt....and David says, "Honey! I'm so proud of you! You completed something". {insert punch to the gut...HIS}. Rotten man - now I know where his daughter gets it.
So back to our weekend, I get up from my nap and we get ready and head out so we can attend the Christmas Carols and Reading Service at the Church. We make it! Amen, hallelujah! The service was quiet different. It went kinda like this:
- The choir sings - amazing! Really, they were good, did a great job.
- Then we pray.
- Then someone comes up and reads scripture.
- Then we sing.
- Then someone comes up and reads scripture.
- Then we sing.
- Then someone comes up and read scripture.
- The Choir sings.
- Someone comes up and reads scripture.
- We sing.
- Someone comes up and reads scripture.
- Choir sings.
- Someone comes up and reads scripture.
- We sing and stand for offering (collection)
- We sit
- Someone reads scripture.
- We have the "Blessing of the crib". Completely new to us, but Ashlynn was the Vicor's little helper & loved every minute of it and got wonderful complements.
- We stay seated.
- We sing.
- We stand for the gospel to be read.
- Pray
- Sing
- And then are invited to stay for refreshments.Wine & Mince pies.
Now, no - it was not a catholic service. It was what they refer to as Anglican. Now the best definition I've been given of this is from my friend Lydia. Let me share it with you: "The Anglican Church, the official Church of England, was started by Henry VIII because he was mad at the Catholic church for denying him divorce up demand. It is very much part of the culture - you'll hear "Happy Christmas," not "Happy Holidays," in December. Having said that, the church is in decline. A very small percentage of people attend the beautiful empty Anglican churches, and an even smaller percentage of those under the age of about 70. History counts for more here though, so they are much less concerned about offending people and more likely to hold to Christian traditions, even if they have no relationship to Christ attached to it."
This I believe is why it's very similar to a catholic service. However, it was a nice service and we did enjoy it. The best part was seeing Ashlynn help and hearing her sing - she did so well. Oh and the organ that was being played! I couldn't find it - I kept looking all over through out the service for where the music was coming from - finally the last song - silent night - I see "pipes", it was a pipe organ! It sounded awesome - but I immediately thought of Beauty and the Beast - only time I've ever seen a pipe organ is in the Beauty and the Beast Christmas movie and now I've seen one in person! Sweet!
After the service we head back to our room on base, cook some dinner, we ate very late Sunday evening, and I worked on a few things I took with me (Christmas Cards...you'll get them in January!).
However, I was so hot, I could not get comfortable and I thought it was just me - I'm the one dealing with sinus crud and I soon realize it's not just me, it's all of us...we were cooking! Literally. It was so hot in there, none of us could get comfortable and we were nearly sweating. So David tries to find the thermostat (non existent) and finally comes to the conclusion that you have to turn down each radiator. They were all set to MAX!
So the night before we were in a cold house, the next night we were in a sauna, and we will be very very lucky if we are all not sick on Christmas Day! Whew!!! What a weekend.
So Monday morning the electrician arrives, the kids and I arrive later - attempted to sleep in but even that didn't work! There was some repairs going on and someone started hammering about 9 a.m. Do you know what a hammer at 9 a.m. does to a person with a sinus headache? Lets just say he's lucky I couldn't find him. Kids and I arrive home to learn that the loss of power was Daddy's fault! Yep, you got it. haha - Honey, I love you! He had hung the last 2 shelves on the wall Saturday and well shortly after, we lost power. He'd put a screw threw the wire...crazy! Honestly though, I can say it's a good thing I wasn't hanging stuff - we'd probably still be without power!
So now were are home again, our home is warm again, and we are trying to get ready for Christmas. We've baking to finish and yes, your Christmas Cards! :) You know you love me! I promise you will get them. They're almost 100% complete - thanks to the helping hands of my dear husband. And now the blog is updated, so you have something to read until you get your Christmas Cards, and I my dear family & friends must return to the chocolate melting in the kitchen.
Merry Christmas!!! We love and miss you all.
David, Tonya, Ashlynn, & Brier
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